Watkins Glen Bike Ride

One day this week, I was able to ride my bike around Farm Sanctuary’s neighborhood and enjoy a warm summer evening. I visited an old cemetery, rode past an antiquated one room school house, and came upon a group of teenagers playing, running and sliding on a wet, sudsy plastic sheet that was laid out across a wide grassy lawn. I peddled past fields of freshly cut hay and vegetable and herb gardens, and then came to a small farm raising cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and birds for slaughter.  The animals were able to go outdoors and the conditions weren’t as bad as on industrial factory farms, but the place had a distinct smell of death.  It was very different from the peaceful and fragrant plant and herb gardens I’d seen  – and different from the starting and ending point of my tour, Farm Sanctuary. When I returned, people were visiting with and enjoying the companionship of the animals, and others gathered and ate edible wild berries nearby.